Air Masses, fronts and Winds

The four major air masses depend on

moisture content and temperature

Weather refers to

the condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time

The types of temperatures an air mass can be are

tropical and polar

The types of moisture contents an air mass can be are

Contiental and maritime

The four major types of fronts are

cold, warm, occluded, and stationary

Air masses are

Large bodies of air that move across land

Different types of weather are brought in by

air masses

A front is a boundary that occurs when

two different kinds of air masses interact

A cold front occurs when

A cold air mass is moving in to replace a warm air mass

Cold fronts result in

violent weather

A warm front occurs when

A warm air mass is moving towards a cold air mass

Warm fronts result in

gentle rain, cirrus clouds, and humid temperatures

A stationary front occurs when

A warm air mass and cold air mass meet and do not move

Stationary fronts result in

gentle rain, cirrus clouds, and humid temperatures

An occluded front occurs when

A cold air mass catches up to a warm air mass, trapping it between the two cooler masses

Occluded fronts result in

Mild rain or snow

Warm air moves ____ than cold air

slower

Cold air moves ____ than warm air

faster

A cold front moves in the direction of the

cold air

A warm front moves in the direction of the

warm air